We Are Brethren

Lynn Huggins
02/09/25 - Sunday AM Worship

 We Are Brethren

Beloved of God and Beloved of One Another

Introduction:  When Jane and I flew from New York to Moscow in February of 1998, we were in an airplane for some 10 hours along with many others whom we did not know.  Some spoke English while others spoke Russian, and others may have been of other countries and backgrounds.  We were a diverse group indeed.  What brought us all together for 10 hours?  Probably the only thing we had in common was that we all wanted to go to Moscow on that particular day and had chosen that particular airline.  Despite this common goal, however, some incident aboard that plane could have fanned passions and intensified our differences even to the point of conflict and violence.  I am glad this did not happen and we maintained our unity of purpose in a bond of peace.

     In the church, there are people of different nationalities and backgrounds, with different personalities and idiosyncrasies.   What keeps us together?  How do we keep “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”?  For one thing, we must understand who we are.  We are brethren, in one family. 

In this lesson we want to emphasize that our relationship with one another in the church is that of brethren, in the family of God, beloved of God and beloved of one another.

I. We are Brethren, a Part of One Family, with the Same Father, and with a Common Purpose.

      A. The church is the family of God.  1 Tim. 3:15

            1. Christians are members of the family of God.  Eph. 2:19

      B. Christians are children of God.  1 John 3:1-2

            1. We are children of God by adoption.  Eph. 1:5; Rom. 8:15-17

                  a. Jesus is the one and only Son of God (John 1:14; 3:16).  Christians are sons by adoption.

                  b. We may now cry out “Abba, Father.”  Such an expression indicates a close relation to the

                        Father.  It is the expression Jesus used at Gethsemane.  Mark 14:36

            2. Being children of God, we are joint heirs with Christ.  Christ is our brother.

      C. We are brethren in the family of God, beloved of God, and beloved of one another.  Rom. 1:7;

            1 Tim. 6:2; Phil. 4:1; 1 John 4:7,11,21

            1. There is a special bond in a physical family.  The bond you have with your fleshly brothers and

                  sisters, in many cases, is stronger than a bond you have with other people.  But our bond with

                  brothers and sisters in the family of God is much stronger than any physical bond.  

                  a. Who are Jesus’ brethren?   Matt. 12:46-50     

                  b. The bond Jesus has with those who do the will of His Father in heaven is greater than the

                        bond He had with his physical mother and brothers.

                  c. Following Jesus in the family of God will at times result in division within our physical

                        family.   Matt. 10:34-37

            2. When our brothers in the flesh are also brothers in Christ, the force of that bond is not in the

                  flesh but in the relationship we all have with God.

      D. All who are children of God have a common goal.  Our goal is to be conformed to the image of

             our Brother, Jesus Christ.   Rom. 8:29

II. The Lord Designed the Local Church, Composed of Brethren, for Our Good.

      A. The Lord designed the local church for our growth.   1 Cor. 1:2; Rom. 16:16

            1. When one becomes a Christian, the Lord does not want him to hold himself aloof from the other

                  disciples.    1 Cor. 12:25-27; Rom. 12:4-5,10,13,15

            2. He wants disciples in a locality to come together  into a group and meet and work together as

                  brethren.   Acts 9:26-28

      B. Each member is to do his/her part for the growth of the body.   Eph. 4:11-16

            1. Special servants--apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, were provided for a

                  purpose, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,...” (v. 12) 

                  a.  These special servants are to equip the saints so they may minister.   In other words, God’s

                        intention was that these special servants make ministers out of all the saints.

            2. This work of ministering (which includes all the saints) has a purpose:  “for the edifying of the

                  body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of

                  God,... ” (vs. 13ff.)

                  a. None of the members are to be neglected, for all are to arrive at the goal of spiritual maturity

                        by means of our mutual ministration.

                  b. Oneness of mind comes as we all are united in the one faith and in the knowledge of the Son

                        of God, and as we all grow to be more and more like Christ.

                  c. Each in the congregation is to do his/her part.

      C. Can we then say we don’t need the church?  No!   The local congregation has been designed by

            God for our good. 

III. What Should be Our Attitude in Regard to Our Brethren in the Local Church?   

      A. Understand that you need them.

            1. “…according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the

                  body for the edifying of itself in love.”  Eph. 4:16

            2. 1 Cor. 12:14-22   While the context of this passages deals with members who had different

                  spiritual gifts given to them by the Spirit, the principle is true of churches today who have

                  members with different abilities and functions within the church.  All members are necessary.

            3. ILL:  Marriage has it ups and downs, but one thing that can hold a husband and wife together

                  during the difficult times is the understanding that they need each other.  When they realize

                  their need for each other to make their marriage complete, they will work to solve their

                  problems and love will reign supreme.

            4. This same attitude within the local church would help motivate us to find solutions to problems

                  and prevent division from occurring.   When we come to realize that we need each other to be

                  what God wants us to be, we will look to one another for help. 

      B. Be thankful for them.  Col. 1:3-5; 2 Thess. 1:3

            1. Consider those brethren that are fighting evil alongside you. Consider their faith and love.  Be

                  thankful for them, even though they do have some weaknesses. 

            2. If we are thankful for them, we will not abuse them, but be patient with them.

                  a. ILL.  One cares for and protects that for which he is thankful.  One who is thankful for his

                              marriage will do what he can to keep it a good marriage.

      C. Love them.   1 Peter 2:17; 1 John 3:10-15

            1. Our brethren are not always that lovable, but we can still love them.  We can still care for them.

                  I must realize that I’m not always that lovable either, but I want my brethren to love me.

      D. Do Good to them.

            1. If we love them, we will try to help them.  We will do them good.   1 John 3:16-19;  

                  1 Thess. 1:3  - “labor of love”

            2. We will not keep them at arms distance, but be a part of their lives for their good.

Conclusion:  God has given us our brethren for our good.  The world is too evil to face without this close brotherly relationship.  You need them and they need you.  Fight the wiles of the devil with them, and fight for them.  Having this understanding that we are brethren, that we are beloved of God and beloved of one another, will contribute to the unity that our Lord desires.